transatlantic
Member
Thanks, Radagast!
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Identity and Date of Manufacture of S&W Revolvers
- Thread starter Brian Williams
- Start date
Radagast
Member
PA4476:
You have a postwar K22 Masterpiece, dating to 1948. Serial range for that year was K18732 to K73121.
Introduced in 1940, production halted in 1941 due to the war. Production began again in 1946.
In 1957 the K22 Target Masterpiece was designated the Model 17 and continued in production until 1989.
It is now available in the S&W Classic range, or in stainless steel with a heavy barrel as the Model 617.
You have a postwar K22 Masterpiece, dating to 1948. Serial range for that year was K18732 to K73121.
Introduced in 1940, production halted in 1941 due to the war. Production began again in 1946.
In 1957 the K22 Target Masterpiece was designated the Model 17 and continued in production until 1989.
It is now available in the S&W Classic range, or in stainless steel with a heavy barrel as the Model 617.
hk lover
Member
Year of manufacture
smith&wesson,6 inch,357 mag.BFL2577,ADJ SIGHTS,
smith&wesson,6 inch,357 mag.BFL2577,ADJ SIGHTS,
Radagast
Member
hk lover: Between August 1990 (BFFxxxx) & January 1991 (BFWxxxx).
Radagast
Member
Swampboy: 1971-1972.
jdugb3: 1962-1969. Serial number range for those years was 295000 to 786544. If the grips have an uncheckered diamond around the grips screws then it's from 1968 or earlier. If the cylinder release is flat rather than concave then its from 1966 or earlier.
jdugb3: 1962-1969. Serial number range for those years was 295000 to 786544. If the grips have an uncheckered diamond around the grips screws then it's from 1968 or earlier. If the cylinder release is flat rather than concave then its from 1966 or earlier.
hk lover
Member
s&w 44 mag
4 inch barrel,n frame,adj. sights serial #121715,model 29-2
4 inch barrel,n frame,adj. sights serial #121715,model 29-2
Rick-F
Member
I got this after my father-in-law passed away. Other than a facory test fire, I do not believe it has ever been fired.
a) .357 Mag
b) 4"
c) square
d) 6
e) fixed sights.
f) serial number N558099
g) Model 520
a) .357 Mag
b) 4"
c) square
d) 6
e) fixed sights.
f) serial number N558099
g) Model 520
Radagast
Member
Rick-F:
1980. The Model 520 .357 Magnum Military & Police revolver was introduced in May 1980. Serial range was N557750 to N560860, 3000 manufactured for the New York State Police but never delivered, later sold into the retail market. Four inch barrel, fixed sights, pinned barrel, recessed chambers, plain clothes Magna grips on the large N frame.
hk lover: the 29-2 was manufactured from 1962 to 1982, The serial number should have either an S or an N prefix and is located on the bottom of the grip frame. The serial number is sometimes also found under the crane near the model number, but often this is just an assembly number, not the serial number. Assembly numbers were for tracking parts in the factory and have no relevance to the serial number. Check the number and get back to me and I'll narrow it down further.
1980. The Model 520 .357 Magnum Military & Police revolver was introduced in May 1980. Serial range was N557750 to N560860, 3000 manufactured for the New York State Police but never delivered, later sold into the retail market. Four inch barrel, fixed sights, pinned barrel, recessed chambers, plain clothes Magna grips on the large N frame.
hk lover: the 29-2 was manufactured from 1962 to 1982, The serial number should have either an S or an N prefix and is located on the bottom of the grip frame. The serial number is sometimes also found under the crane near the model number, but often this is just an assembly number, not the serial number. Assembly numbers were for tracking parts in the factory and have no relevance to the serial number. Check the number and get back to me and I'll narrow it down further.
Radagast, a couple of weeks ago I posted that I had bought a S&W m36 Snubbie and I said that the s/n in the crane was 82556 and you gave me a DOB as 1956-57. I was giving the gun a good cleaning and found it has a s/n on the butt of the gun. It is J638091, I need to know the DOB and why are there different numbers in the crane and on the butt? Thanks
Radagast
Member
bangkok:
First, the numbering confusion. Since the beginning of recorded history, or at least the middle of the 19th century, S&W have stamped their serial numbers on the bottom of the grip frame. On some guns they also stamped it on the cylinder face and on the underside of the barrel. In the 60s or seventies ( I believe the seventies, but could be wrong) with the trend towards large target grips that covered the bottom of the frame, they also began stamping serial numbers on the frame under the crane where the model number is. They kept the serial number on the bottom of the grip frame. So over the last 150 odd years serial numbers have been duplicated in several places, but always there has been a serial number on the bottom of the grip frame. So that's where we look for the serial number if there is any doubt.
Other numbers also get stamped on the gun during the manufacturing process. Some manufactured during the two world wars have military inspector stamps on them. The most common stampings seen however are what are known as assembly numbers. These are numbers stamped on parts during the manufacturing process, I guess a combination of "Kilroy was here" & "These parts are fitted, do not separate". These numbers are known as assembly numbers.
An example: My 1973 manufactured Model 66 has serial number 4K19xxx on the bottom of the grip frame & under the crane. It also has the assembly number 11155 & a large S stamped on the crane proper. I've seen a pic of another frame that had several different assembly numbers stamped under the grips.
But once the gun is assembled only the serial number matters. That is the number S&W records when it ships the gun, that's the number the BATF look for.
Now getting back to your model 36. The early J frames were serial numbered from 1 to 786544 between 1950 & 1969. This covered the models 36, 37, 38, 49 & 50. So when you gave me a number in the 82xxx range I looked up the early J frame list in the Standard Catalog of S&W and came up with 1956.
It appears that the number you quoted was an assembly number. Your actual serial number is J638xxx. In 1969 S&W started the J frame serial number range over at J1 and continued on up from there.
Again referring to the Standard Catalog of S&W, J638xxx falls into the serial range for 1977-1978, being J610001to J670000.
First, the numbering confusion. Since the beginning of recorded history, or at least the middle of the 19th century, S&W have stamped their serial numbers on the bottom of the grip frame. On some guns they also stamped it on the cylinder face and on the underside of the barrel. In the 60s or seventies ( I believe the seventies, but could be wrong) with the trend towards large target grips that covered the bottom of the frame, they also began stamping serial numbers on the frame under the crane where the model number is. They kept the serial number on the bottom of the grip frame. So over the last 150 odd years serial numbers have been duplicated in several places, but always there has been a serial number on the bottom of the grip frame. So that's where we look for the serial number if there is any doubt.
Other numbers also get stamped on the gun during the manufacturing process. Some manufactured during the two world wars have military inspector stamps on them. The most common stampings seen however are what are known as assembly numbers. These are numbers stamped on parts during the manufacturing process, I guess a combination of "Kilroy was here" & "These parts are fitted, do not separate". These numbers are known as assembly numbers.
An example: My 1973 manufactured Model 66 has serial number 4K19xxx on the bottom of the grip frame & under the crane. It also has the assembly number 11155 & a large S stamped on the crane proper. I've seen a pic of another frame that had several different assembly numbers stamped under the grips.
But once the gun is assembled only the serial number matters. That is the number S&W records when it ships the gun, that's the number the BATF look for.
Now getting back to your model 36. The early J frames were serial numbered from 1 to 786544 between 1950 & 1969. This covered the models 36, 37, 38, 49 & 50. So when you gave me a number in the 82xxx range I looked up the early J frame list in the Standard Catalog of S&W and came up with 1956.
It appears that the number you quoted was an assembly number. Your actual serial number is J638xxx. In 1969 S&W started the J frame serial number range over at J1 and continued on up from there.
Again referring to the Standard Catalog of S&W, J638xxx falls into the serial range for 1977-1978, being J610001to J670000.
cyclopsshooter
Member
a) 38
b) 4" heavy
c) square
d) 6
e) fixed sights.
f) serial number brp9498
g) Model 10-10
b) 4" heavy
c) square
d) 6
e) fixed sights.
f) serial number brp9498
g) Model 10-10
Radagast
Member
cyclopsshooter:
Between August 1994 (BRFxxxx) & January 1996 CAMxxxx). Based on the rate of serial number take up in 1993, which is better documented, and assuming a constant rate of manufacture, I would guesstimate your gun was made in late 1994.
reload68:
Between August `1990 & January 1991. The 60-7 was introduced in 1990, the ladysmith was introduced the previous year on the 60-6 with an LDY serial prefix. I guess with the 60-7 they moved to standard serial ranges.
Between August 1994 (BRFxxxx) & January 1996 CAMxxxx). Based on the rate of serial number take up in 1993, which is better documented, and assuming a constant rate of manufacture, I would guesstimate your gun was made in late 1994.
reload68:
Between August `1990 & January 1991. The 60-7 was introduced in 1990, the ladysmith was introduced the previous year on the 60-6 with an LDY serial prefix. I guess with the 60-7 they moved to standard serial ranges.
Radagast
Member
Florey55: K550xxx = 1963, K830xxx = 1968.
Chris Plitt
Member
I'll give a shot:
.38 Special
1 3/4" barrel (less than 2" for sure)
Rounded Butt
5 Shots
Fixed Sights
BKF52xx
Model 36-7
I know the history of the gun (great grandmothers) but I don't know date of birth or purchase or anything like that, any help would be appreciated.
.38 Special
1 3/4" barrel (less than 2" for sure)
Rounded Butt
5 Shots
Fixed Sights
BKF52xx
Model 36-7
I know the history of the gun (great grandmothers) but I don't know date of birth or purchase or anything like that, any help would be appreciated.
hk lover
Member
s&w 44 mag
4",blue,3/4 underlug#N121715.THANKS FOR THE HELP
4",blue,3/4 underlug#N121715.THANKS FOR THE HELP
Last edited:
Radagast
Member
Chris Pitt: July or August 1991.
hk lover: 1973.
hk lover: 1973.
